The Brochure Series of Architectural Illustration, Vol. 01, No. 04, April 1895: Byzantine-Romanesque Windows in Southern Italy

In Short

This 1895 periodical volume examines the architectural heritage of Southern Italy, focusing specifically on the fusion of Byzantine and Romanesque window designs across Apulia. Through analytical prose and accompanying visual plates, it explores how isolated medieval towns preserved unique stonework where Eastern decorative intricate ribboning intersects with Western structural archways. Alongside this historical critique, the publication records contemporary late-nineteenth-century architectural life, reviewing new photographic folios of American colonial estates, chronicling regional club proceedings, and highlighting prestigious travelling scholarship awards. It survives as a vivid snapshot of early modern architectural scholarship and professional practice.

The Story

The issue opens by introducing the rugged, historically isolated landscape of Southern Italy’s Apulia region. Modern travel remains difficult across this interior, leaving centuries-old structural treasures largely overlooked by international architects and tourists alike. A recent government expedition led by Signor Boni uncovers a wealth of medieval buildings, setting the stage for an examination of how regional stonework developed at the crossroads of distinct cultural movements.

The text shifts into a rigorous comparative analysis of Byzantine and Romanesque architectural fundamentals. Coastal trade routes historically invited direct Eastern influences, bringing Byzantine conventions into Italian seaports. This style manifests through delicate, flat-surface ornaments—intricate ribbon interlaces, stylized floral motifs, and flame-like acanthus leaves designed to leave precise, symmetrical spaces across stone capitals and soffits. Inland, however, local builders derived their methods from heavy Roman basilicas, shaping the early Romanesque style. Lacking advanced engineering techniques for wide spans, these builders set sturdy columns close together under small, thick arches, prioritizing heavy masses of wall, dramatic shadows, and direct, functional construction over delicate surface refinement.

As the narrative progresses, specific window examples from regional monuments—including structures in Bari, Trani, Altamura, and BitTonto—illustrate how these two stylistic impulses merged. Intricately carved Byzantine leafage appears alongside barbarian Romanesque motifs, such as grotesque beasts serving as column bases or reversed capitals used in place of traditional supports.

Transitioning from historical analysis to late-nineteenth-century professional updates, the issue reports on contemporary architectural developments. It details the awarding of the Rotch Travelling Scholarship to William S. Aldrich, detailing his academic trajectory through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and prominent Boston offices as he prepares for study in Italy. Similar scholarship achievements by John Russell Pope and Percy Ash are highlighted.

The text then engages in a spirited defense of trade advertisements within architectural exhibition catalogues. Responding to criticisms published by The American Architect, the editor argues that tasteful, standardized advertising ethically offsets venue costs while connecting trade suppliers with practicing architects.

Finally, the publication reviews newly released architectural books, offering a detailed critique of Edward A. Crane and E. E. Soderholtz’s photographic portfolio on Colonial architecture in Charleston and Savannah. It examines Southern residential planning—such as second-floor drawing rooms and two-story porticos—praising these historic structures for their refined proportions. The issue closes with notes on newly formed regional clubs, including the Architectural Club of San Francisco, and announces an upcoming cabinet piano design competition.

How It Unfolds

The isolated treasures of Apulia Government official Signor Boni uncovers an unexpected wealth of medieval stonework hidden throughout Southern Italy's remote interior towns. Difficult travel conditions have kept these architectural sites largely unvisited by modern scholars.

East meets West in stone The text distinguishes coastal Byzantine craftsmanship from inland Romanesque structural methods. Byzantine design relies on intricate, stylized foliage and geometric ribboning, whereas Romanesque builders rely on thick masonry and sturdy, close-set arcades.

Regional windows analyzed Specific windows across Trani, Bari, Altamura, and BitTonto demonstrate a hybrid aesthetic. Delicate Byzantine leaf mouldings frame heavy Romanesque structural openings supported by carved grotesque beasts and unconventional capitals.

Scholarship winners announced The narrative turns to contemporary professional achievements, announcing William S. Aldrich as the Rotch Travelling Scholarship winner. Details emerge regarding his upcoming departure for Italy and past work in major offices.

The catalogue advertising debate The publication defends the inclusion of standardized trade advertisements within architectural exhibition catalogues. It refutes claims made by The American Architect, emphasizing the economic necessity of trade sponsorship.

Southern Colonial forms reviewed A review of a new photographic folio examines historic domestic architecture in Charleston and Savannah. The analysis highlights unique regional features, such as second-floor drawing rooms, Flemish bond masonry, and wrought-iron entry gates.

The People

Signor Boni An Italian government official charged with the restoration of historic monuments, Signor Boni travels through the remote province of Apulia. He seeks to catalog neglected medieval structures, expressing surprise at finding extensive, high-quality stonework scattered across isolated interior towns.

William S. Aldrich A dedicated architectural draughtsman who completed special studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Aldrich wins the prestigious Rotch Travelling Scholarship. Having gained practical experience on major projects like Tremont Temple and World's Fair structures, he prepares to embark on an extensive educational journey to study historical architecture in Italy.

John Russell Pope A promising young architect and Columbia College graduate, Pope secures both the McKim Fellowship and the Roman Scholarship. His victories position him to pursue advanced architectural studies abroad alongside fellow scholars.

Percy Ash An experienced designer trained in prominent Philadelphia offices, Ash competes successfully to earn the University of Pennsylvania Scholarship in Architecture, advancing his standing among contemporary American practitioners.

Miles Brewton The original owner and builder of the historic 1760 William Bull Pringle house in Charleston, Brewton established a residence that serves as a benchmark for Southern Colonial design, noted for its two-story portico and delicate interior ceiling craft.

In Its Own Voice

"The province of Apulia has been so little invaded by the march of modern improvement, and its present inhabitants are, as a rule, so poor, that it is difficult to travel here except on the line of a few main thoroughfares..."

Signor Boni encounters significant physical isolation while surveying historic monuments in Southern Italy.

"Romanesque was a barbaric art at the best, and has the usual virtue of the barbarian,--a directness of attack at the problem in hand and a simplicity in treating it which is invigorating to see."

The text analyzes the structural logic and unpretentious character of early inland Italian architecture.

"We think that the advertising when well presented adds to, rather than detracts from, the interest of a catalogue. Our only desire is to see it done in good taste."

The editor addresses contemporary debates regarding commercial sponsorship within architectural exhibition publications.

What It's Really About

At its core, the issue investigates how cultural exchanges and geographic isolation shape structural design. It contrasts the refined, intellectual ornamentation of Eastern seaboard traders with the practical, structural inertia of inland builders, showing how two distinct artistic mentalities merge into a regional vocabulary.

Beyond medieval history, the publication examines the practical realities of the nineteenth-century architectural profession. It wrestles with the challenge of creating a distinct American style by studying historic precedents—whether Italian medieval windows or Southern Colonial manors. Furthermore, it addresses the economic mechanics of the field, advocating for transparent commercial support to sustain architectural exhibitions and foster young talent through competitive travelling scholarships.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to architectural historians, historic preservationists, and readers fascinated by nineteenth-century media. It offers a clear window into how Victorian-era scholars analyzed medieval craftsmanship, providing precise descriptions of stone cutting, capital proportions, and surface ornament without falling back on overly dense jargon. Reading it feels like sitting in an editor’s study during the 1890s, shifting seamlessly between ancient Italian masonry and lively debates over current gallery catalogues.

The text presents few barriers to the modern reader; its prose is crisp, analytical, and direct. While its primary focus is technical detail—examining specific window soffits, mouldings, and columns—it balances this focus with practical updates on late-nineteenth-century office life and scholarship competitions. Readers will appreciate its clear-eyed evaluation of historical styles, particularly its unsentimental appreciation for early Romanesque building techniques. It remains a historic record of how past traditions were studied to inform the growth of a developing modern profession.